Le Cinq Codet
5 Rue Louis Code, Paris, 75007, France
Why We Like It
Hidden away on a tiny street, this beautifully designed hotel feels like a sophisticated oasis in an already serene Left Bank neighborhood. Though well away from the tourist hoardes, it's close enough to reach Saint-Germain, the Eiffel Tower, and other tourist sites quickly and easily on foot.
Fodor's Expert Review
Le Cinq Codet has singlehandedly injected this sedate Left Bank neighborhood with a much-needed shot of contemporary panache. Set in a 1930's former France Telecom exchange, the Art Deco-era building's streamlined contours create the ideal setting for spaces that mix modern elegance with high-tech advances, while making the most of some very Parisian views of nearby Invalides and the Eiffel Tower a few blocks away.
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Room
The sinuous building's oversized windows flood these spacious rooms with daylight, all the better to highlight the lustre of natural materials—leather, marble, and miles of blond wood—a trademark of architect Jean-Philippe Nuel's understated elegance. Original artworks and photographs are shown to their best advantage against walls in taupe or ivory, and built-in leather banquettes, custom furniture, and fully-automated blinds heighten the distinct effect of sailing in a yacht. The Duplex Suites loft bedrooms are reached via a glass-clad staircase for maximum airiness, and huge terraces offer spectacular views of the Invalides' gilded dome or the Eiffel Tower.
Tip A bank of windows on the 4th-floor Eiffel Tower facing corridors offers views of the tower at night sparkling every hour on the hour from a comfy leather sofa positioned precisely for that purpose.
Bathroom
Ultra-contemporary bathrooms, with deep designer tubs and/or walk-in showers, are in the same luxe-minimalist aesthetic, with raised sinks and Cinq Codet's own deliciously scented bath products.
You Should Know Some of the rooms have a tub in the bedroom, which some will love, others not so much.
Lobby
As handsome as the lobby is, with its soaring volumes and giant windows, it's not really a cozy to spend an hour lounging with a book, although a nice collection of art books, lifestyle magazines, and newspapers are yours to peruse. You'll be happier in the courtyard terrace or restaurant lounge, which is open all day for a drink.
Spa
The spa offers one double treatment room and a complete menu of holistic massages and beauty rituals. In the center of it all, a big Jacuzzi (open until 8 p.m.) sits outdoors in a glassed-in courtyard, where you'll be visible to guests in the internal corridors and courtyard-facing rooms. On the other hand, the sauna and steam room are very private.
Gym
A daylight-flooded fitness room comes with a small but state-of-the-art choice of equipment: exercise bike, elliptical trainer, weight bench, and treadmill.
Dining
The restaurant, open for breakfast (buffet-style with hot dishes to order), lunch, and dinner is as stylish as any in the neighborhood and enhanced by a tree-shaded outdoor terrace that's open all day to lounge with coffee or a drink.
You Should Know The restaurant is still finding its feet, and the service, though well-meaning, can be slow.
Drinking
Cozy up to a video fireplace in the beautiful bar-lounge—part of the restaurant with access to the outdoor terrace—a chic spot for sipping a cocktail from a menu of classics (Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Manhattan) side-by-side with neighborhood sophisticates.
Rue Clerc
Whatever you do, don't miss the rue Clerc, the area's best market street with little bistros and cafés for a budget meal and a bunch of tempting gourmet food shops for grabbing a bite on the go (or for later in your room).
What's Nearby
Getting Around
A two-minute walk from the École Militaire metro station.
The upscale 7th arrondissement has its own quiet character, a bourgeois mix of limestone residences and old mansions that now house branches of the French government, along with some of the city's most popular tourist sites: the Eiffel Tower and Champs de Mars, Invalides and the lovely Musée Rodin and its walled-in gardens. Though you're well away from the crowds of central Paris, this is still a touristed area, and its residential status assures plenty of cafés and restaurants—especially on lively rue Cler, a must-see in the area, as well as some fine shopping. Don't miss Le Bon Marché, Paris's most sophisticated department store, a 15-minute walk away.
Restaurants
If you feel like getting out, legendary Paris chef Christian Constant's rue Saint-Dominique dominion is an easy walk away: Café Constant (where the chef likes to hang out) is always reliable for a well-priced classic bistro meal; Les Cocottes for something slow-cooked and comforting; and Le Violon d'Ingres for an romantic gastronomic dinner for two. On a more intimate note, tiny La Table d'Aki (16 covers) serves a superb Japanese-inflected menu of refined French dishes with an emphasis on fish (all within a 10-minute walk).
Bars
This is not a neighborhood known for its nightlife, but sipping a freshly crafted cocktail accompanied by some very good tapas plates at The Club is an elegant affair, without the steep prices (10 minutes away on foot). To experience the pinnacle of neighborhood bars, literally, head up to the Champagne Bar at the top floor of the Eiffel Tower, for views this stupefying it's worth the price of a coupe (5-minute walk).
(around the corner at 24 Rue Surcouf)
Photos
Quick Facts
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